FC HALIFAX Town know their path to the last 32 of the FA Trophy could be blocked by a proudYorkshireman.
The Shaymen will aim to shut out one of non-league football’s deadliest strikers when they host Blue Square North rivals Altrincham in the first round on Saturday.
Doncaster-based Damien Reeves was the highest scorer in the top six tiers of English football last season, when he fired home 44 goals.
And the 26-year-old former Leeds trainee, whose hopes of a professional contract at Elland Road were shattered by a badly broken leg, has notched another 20 already this season.
Reeves, who has also played for Wakefield and Farsley, works as a plasterer, but would love a second chance of full-time football.
“It’s not the most glamorous job in the world and I could definitely do without the early mornings,” he said.
“I think that with me working as well as playing for Altrincham, some clubs think they’re going to have to pay more to make it worth my while, but I’d love to play full-time.”
Reeves trained with both Oldham and Gillingham during the close-season and also spoke with hometown club Doncaster, but no offers materialised so instead he signed a new deal with Alty, which allows him to join a Football League club for free.
“Nobody knows what I can do unless I’m given the chance,” he added. “I’ve scored at this level. Now I want to show I can do it higher up the scale.”
While Halifax will be wary of Reeves, Altrincham will aim to contain on-loan Fleetwood frontman Alex Titchiner, whose hat trick helped the Shaymen beat Droylsden 4-1 last Saturday.
If the Trophy clash ends in a draw, the replay will be at Moss Lane a week tonight, November 28 (7.45).
